A Multidisciplinary Approach to Game Day Preparation for Team Sports: A Delphi Study With Expert Consensus

Abstract

Mason, BRJ, Pumpa, KL, McKune, AJ, Gill, ND, and Ball, NB. A multidisciplinary approach to game day preparation for team sports: A Delphi study with expert consensus. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1345-1352, 2022-The aim of this study was to identify game day preparation strategies used by performance staff to improve team sport performance and to determine consensus regarding the application and importance of these strategies. Twenty-five performance staff working in high performance or professional team sports participated in this Delphi study, which implemented 3 survey rounds. The first round sought responses to open-ended questions relating to the use of game day preparation strategies. These responses were developed into statements and recirculated (round-2 survey), with subjects asked to rate their level of agreement with each statement. The third and final survey presented revised versions of statements that did not reach a consensus in the previous round, along with new statements derived from subject responses. A thematic analysis of the open-ended responses in the first survey identified 5 key themes relating to game day preparation strategies: "exercise," "nutrition," "psychological," "technical and tactical," and "other." The round-2 survey included 38 statements across the 5 themes, with 22 reaching the consensus threshold ($75%) for agreement. The remaining 16 statements did not reach consensus. The final survey included 18 statements (16 revised and 2 new) with 12 reaching the consensus threshold for agreement. Key preparation strategies identified in this study include structured and progressive warm-ups, strength and power-based priming sessions, individualized nutrition plans, and precooling in hot conditions. Performance staff working in similar environments should consider adopting these strategies to improve athlete or team performance.

Delayed potentiation effects on neuromuscular performance after optimal load and high load resistance priming sessions using velocity loss

“…Thus, it seems that higher training volumes of heavy weight resistance training, that attenuate the circadian decline in the testosterone concentration, could be another strategy to induce a delayed potentiation in performance outcomes. Additionally, some authors have attempted to associate athletes’ readiness levels with changes in testosterone concentration after resistance training, however, their relationship remains unclear (Mason et al, 2020). In fact, our results suggest an increase in performance without any change in readiness levels after a priming protocol with high load, low volume and low level of effort As previously shown, there is a moderate to strong relationship between maximum bar power output in the half squat and different performance markers, such as squat jump, CMJ height and 5–60 m sprint time in track & field, bobsled, rugby and soccer athletes (Loturco et al, 2019).…”

“…Additionally, the level of effort prescribed (defined as the % of velocity loss in subsequent repetitions according to the fastest repetition) can be a determining factor due to its implication for the time‐course of recovery after resistance training (Pareja‐Blanco et al, 2018). While moderate and high loads increased different performance outcomes (Mason, McKune, Pumpa, & Ball, 2020) it is relevant to consider the effect of external loads against total volume and different levels of effort (González‐Badillo et al, 2016). Higher training volumes with high levels of effort (González‐Badillo et al, 2016) and high external loads (Linnamo, Häkkinen, & Komi, 1998; Raastad & Hallén, 2000) need more time for recovery (i.e.…”